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    Kool Beanz Cafe

    4.3 (832 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Kool Beanz Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    KOOL BEANZ CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kool Beanz Cafe

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    Meyer Lemon Pudding Cake.
    Dianne P.

    What is not to love? Local ingredients, varied menu and everything is exquisitely prepared. I always start with an order of their delicious onion rings. The lunch menu always knocks it out of the park! The redfish was a thing dreams are made of! Returned again today for the redfish and ordered the jerk spiced swordfish instead, with pineapple papaya salsa, Caribbean red beans and sweet potato rice! Of course, the onion rings were a necessity. The swordfish was so good and not dried out (a talent beyond my skills).

    Peach Cardamon Pavlova
    Allison B.

    No amount of stars would be enough to describe Kool Beanz. I've heard great things for years, and am seriously kicking myself for not trying them sooner! I had the best experience sitting at the counter, and received exceptional service from Ryan. Despite the dinner rush and busy kitchen, I received swift and thorough service. Ryan made me feel really valued as a customer, and made my experience celebrating a birthday away from home a really positive one. It was also really fun to see management, servers, and chefs all interacting with repeat customers nearby. You can tell how much customers are truly valued when dining at Kool Beanz. Per Ryan's recommendations, I ordered the bourbon-pear glazed salmon and peach-cardamom pavlova from tonight's menus. Both were phenomenal. My salmon was perfectly cooked medium, accompanied by a rich lemon herb risotto and caulilini - which I now know is the broccolini of cauliflower! The pavlova featured a bright peach sauce, decadent cardamom ganache, and peach ginger sorbet. I was afraid the ginger or cardamom would be overpowering, but flavors all worked together perfectly. Both dishes really blew me away. Kool Beanz delivered really top-notch service and dishes in an un-fussy environment, which I loved. I have no doubt this will be my first stop next time I'm in town!

    Local craft beer!
    Robbie C.

    Kool Beanz is much more elevated and creative than its name might suggest. Food was awesome, some of the best we had all weekend. A changing menu that ensures everything is fresh and prices were very reasonable, almost a bargain for the food quality and portions. I had the rainbow trout and almost licked the plate clean. The deserts were top notch as well. Still thinking about the apple one. The interior is very 1990s artsy. Good beer and wine menu with plenty of local options. The only ding against the place was that service, while nice and informed, was very slow. Like ten plus minutes to get a water after being seated and a similar amount of time to get the check after we finished. If you aren't in a hurry though, this is the place to go in Tallahassee!

    Grilled Salmon
    Kenz M.

    Food was amazing and unique. I love that they change up their menu based off of what's seasonally available. It's not a fancy place as far as atmosphere goes but the food is presented and prepared like fine dining. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and friendly. He provided great recommendations. While the steak was good and always on the menu but I would skip it next time. We loved the salmon and fish entree options. Definitely a great one of a kind spot to go in Tallahassee!

    Lamb skewers and couscous
    Rose H.

    My friend and I stopped in for a last minute Friday dinner.Our server was friendly and attentive!! We sat in the patio area and the food was full of flavor.The menu changes so always something new to try! A great place to catch up with loved ones.I will definitely return!

    Shrimp and linguini dish.
    Marilu F.

    Probably one of the best, if not the best, meal I have had since moving to Tallahassee. Kool Beanz Cafe impressed me beyond belief. So I had had them bookmarked for ages and was told repeatedly that this would be my scene, my type of restaurant if you will, and yet I never went until a girlfriend wanted American food. Now I'm not sure what she meant by American food as there's typical burgers, as well as soul food and a bunch of fusion mixes, but I threw out many names. From those names was Kool Beanz, and hence, we wound up there. Their parking lot is small, but there is parking on the street, too. They happen to have both indoor and outdoor seating. I remember that November evening it was cold, so I opted to sit inside. While I waited for my girlfriend, I perused the menu that I had looked at earlier that day on Facebook. Apparently they upload their daily menu there as each day the menu changes. On the day I went, I chose to have a shrimp and linguini dish, although I heavily debated between this and a mojo chicken dish. As it turns out, great minds think alike as that's what my girlfriend ordered. Unfortunately for me, each dish was so yummy, we inhaled and didn't even think about each other's plates. And mind you, we wound up with leftovers! We really questioned getting dessert and decided against it. It truly didn't matter either way. We were so full of yummy food, food we got to enjoy the next day as it heated up well. I hear they have a brunch on weekends. That's likely going to be the next time I go. I loved this restaurant and I am frankly dying to return.

    Short rib dish

    Let's start with the highlight of the dining experience, the precious Sam. She was so delightful to peak with. Honestly, if my son were with us I would suggested he ask for her number just have a new friend. Sunshine...that's the word I would use to describe her. Our waitress Lyndsey was just that, she was attentive and efficient. The food was not as impressive as the hype. The ambiance lacked luster. The sign reads Kool Beanz Cafe and that's the vibe for sure. Paper napkins and blue plastic water cups. It was somewhat of a smorgasbord atmosphere. We enjoy eating at restaurants where when we leave we yearn to return. This experience was one and done.

    Amazing blue cheese & tomato bisque soup & grilled cheese with bacon and onions!
    Tracey M.

    Stopped in after not being here in years! It did not disappoint! I sat at the counter and was greeted by the most wonderful server. She was so friendly and helpful with my selections. I started with a glass of red wine ( Banshee) and ordered the grilled cheese & tomato bisque. Both were delicious! I also ordered the shepherd pie to go! Oh man, was that yummy! Did you see the dessert? Oh boy, parsnip cake? Is this for real? Like carrot cake, but better! I'll be back as soon as I can get back to Tally for work! Reasonably priced. Unpretentious place. Great quality food. Very creative!

    Peppered Flank Steak

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    1 month ago

    I have never had a bad meal here. The service is ALWAYS fast and friendly. Usually quiet and relaxing inside.

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    3 months ago

    Ambiance is beautiful and the food was CHEF'S KISS. Service was great because we had a great server and the dessert was spectacular.

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    Business owner information

    Photo of Kool B.

    Kool B.

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    10 months ago

    Good food but very noisy environment in the main room, quieter in the outer room. Definitely worth a try.

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    11 months ago

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    3 months ago

    food is excellent. owner is personable. like they say talk loud and enjoy!! wish theybwoukd brung brunch back.

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    9 months ago

    Great service. Staff is very friendly and the food was delicious. The menu is thoughtful and different.

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    Page 1 of 21

    Ask the Community - Kool Beanz Cafe

    Dogs allowed at the covered outdoor dining area?

    Yes they do! Their patio is dog friendly and the servers are always so nice about it

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The Edison

    The Edison

    3.3
    (920 reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    **Review: Solid Steak Dinner at The Edison**…read more I had a pleasant dinner at The Edison recently and walked away satisfied, especially with the food. Service was just okay--nothing terrible, but the appetizers definitely took longer than expected to come out. That said, our server was genuinely good: friendly, knowledgeable, and checked on us at the right moments without being overbearing. The appetizers were worth the wait. Both the fried green tomatoes and the crab appetizer were excellent--fresh, flavorful, and nicely executed. For the main course, the steak was spot-on: tender, well-seasoned, and cooked exactly as ordered. The potatoes that came with it were also really good--creamy and tasty without being heavy. We ended the meal with the bread pudding, and it was one of the best parts of the night. It was done perfectly: warm, moist, and full of rich, comforting flavor that didn't feel overly sweet. All in all, The Edison delivers on the food front. If you're after a reliable steak with some standout starters and a strong dessert, it's a solid choice. Ambiance was good, love the historic building. I'll definitely be back for the steak and bread pudding. Recommended!

    I've never really explored Tallahassee- we've driven through or have come and gone for meetings,…read morebut today I had the chance to see some sights! On my hilly adventures, I explored Cascade Park and then ate in the historic power plant turned gastropub The Edison Restaurant. Such a cool use of a historic space with great food and wonderfully attentive servers- the patio space looks amazing, but I ate at the bar since I was alone and ready for a refreshing cocktail and some A/C after a very warm walking tour of the area. Start to finish, amazing! Highly recommend the shrimp skewers- they were perfectly grilled and huge! The gentleman next to me got the pork chop- wow, it was a gorgeous and generous dish! I look forward to returning on my next trip to Tally!

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    The Edison
    The Edison restaurant, Cascades Park, Tallahassee

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    The Edison restaurant, Cascades Park, Tallahassee
    The Power Plant Cafe

    The Power Plant Cafe

    3.9
    (88 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Power Plant is cute little cafe underneath the Edison, located at Cascades park. It's a place I…read morefrequent on my days off, and last week was my first time dining there since their recent menu flip. That morning I ordered one of my favorites, the lox bagel. I didn't realize that with the new menu changes, ordering a lox bagel meant all assembly required-- by the customer. I received a plastic to-go box with a toasted bagel, a ramekin of cream cheese, a ramekin mixture of capers and onions, and smoked salmon wrapped in a deli sheet. I was puzzled and asked for clarification from a sales associate, as the order was not to-go. I want to stress the fact that there was no negligence whatsoever on the part of the employee-- she's great and always makes my day when I see she's working. However, I find it to be quite a bizarre policy to require a guest to construct their own sandwich. Part of the reason people dine out is to be cared for and have a stress-free morning. It was also a waste of plastic cutlery, as I used a single knife to spread cream cheese and tossed the unneeded fork and spoon. Now while I am proud of my sandwich build and the flavor was good, I was left with fingers that smelled like salmon despite washing my hands multiple times. Not exactly what I was hoping for at 10 am on my day off from working in a restaurant. I understand the fine details of menu flips can be a bit clumsy at first, but I hope management receives this feedback and reconsiders this self-assembly method. I love this place and the atmosphere and staff. The lox bagel experience just didn't hit the mark for me.

    i go to this cafe almost every weekend and they make my smoothie the same way every time, which is…read moregreat. The area is great and I never have to wait too long for my order. I usually go there to just sit and/ or do work, and it's super peaceful. 10/10 recommend

    Photos
    Inside counter
    Inside counter
    Tomato, swiss, bacon, cream cheese breakfast and hibiscus latte
    Tomato, swiss, bacon, cream cheese breakfast and hibiscus latte
    Photos of the old power plant

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    Photos of the old power plant
    Hayward House Bistro

    Hayward House Bistro

    3.6
    (56 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    We visited Hayward House Bistro for brunch on FSU Parents Weekend, September 2025. That Sunday…read moremorning the wait list was in effect before the restaurant even opened. I managed to secure a nice table with not even a 25 minute wait thanks to a very courteous and professional manager (thank you, Steve!). At the table, everything was clean, shiny and the server was prompt despite a very busy morning. The crowd, obviously, seemed to be mostly college students and parents. I'm pretty sure during the week it's the Capitol Hill crowd. The food was tasty and really hit the spot. Coffees fresh brewed all around, of course. We started with the Breakfast Poutine for appetizer which was hearty and all enjoyed. For entrees, two Southern Benedict, the Waffle Flight, scrambled eggs and bacon. All the food was cooked to order, presented nicely and the taste exceeded expectations. Also, kudos to our Server, Jose. We'll likely visit again and enjoyed the meal. The ambience, flavors and service professionals were great. I should also mention parking in this area can be challenging so take that into consideration. Do make a reservation or arrive early!

    We chose Hayward House to celebrate our son's graduation from Florida State University and made a…read more2:15 pm lunch reservation for 6 people because the ceremony was at 7 pm. We drove to Tallahassee that day, but unfortunately got caught in heavy traffic due to President Trump speaking in Sumter County near The Villages. As Soon as we realized we would not make our reservation, we called the restaurant to explain the unavoidable circumstances and asked if there was any way to move our reservation to another time that day. Initially, we were told no, so we canceled the reservation. Shortly afterwards, the restaurant called back and informed us we would be charged a cancellation fee of $ 150 - $ 25.00 per person. I completely understand having a cancellation policy, however, charging $ 25 per person for a lunch reservation during unavoidable traffic circumstances felt excessive and unreasonable, especially after we proactively called ahead. What was even more disappointing was the complete lack of flexibility or compassion during an important family milestone. I explained repeatedly that we were desperately trying not to miss our son's graduation celebration and were even worried about missing the ceremony itself because we were stuck in traffic. I asked about every possible alternative- a later dinner reservation, appetizers only, or even moving reservation to another day. Ever request was denied except for a 4 pm slot, which still was not realistic given the traffic situation. What upset me the most was not just the fee itself, but the unwillingness to work with us. A more customer focused approach could have been allowing the $ 150 to be applied toward a future visit. Because of this experience, my family will NEVER dine at Hayward House, and I would NOT recommend it to other FSU families celebrating special occasions.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Hayward House Bistro
    Inside

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    Inside

    Kool Beanz Cafe - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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